Charlotte Riley

Keep your eyes on Tom Hardy. Before the Brit starred in films like "Inception" or this year's "Warrior," he scorched the small screen as thuggish Freddie Jackson in the 2009 British miniseries "The Take" ( 8 p.m. Friday, Encore; 3.5 stars ). His unblinking, brutish presence has turned a rather traditional and ultra-violent crime drama into something exceedingly watchable and suspenseful. Encore is presenting the miniseries as an original for the network, premiering each of the four parts at 8 p.m. Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23. As the story opens, thuggish Freddie is picked up...

Keep your eyes on Tom Hardy. Before the Brit starred in films like "Inception" or this year's "Warrior," he scorched the small screen as thuggish Freddie Jackson in the 2009 British miniseries "The Take" ( 8 p.m. Friday, Encore; 3.5 stars ). His unblinking, brutish presence has turned a rather traditional and ultra-violent crime drama into something exceedingly watchable and suspenseful. Encore is presenting the miniseries as an original for the network, premiering each of the four parts at 8 p.m. Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23. As the story opens, thuggish Freddie is picked up...